About IFCO

IFCO is the only international network dedicated to the promotion and support of family foster care all over the world.

IFCO is the multi-cultural arena where children, young people, foster carers, parents whose children are in foster care, social workers, academics, researchers, volunteers, media, policy makers and others meet, share experience, support each other, all united by the aim of helping to make the right of every child to live in a family a reality.

IFCO bases its work on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children have the right to grow up in a family environment.

We believe that whenever possible children should grow up with their own parents or extended family. When this is not possible, a substitute family-based solution should always prevail over other out-of-home forms of care for children. We believe that care should be child and family focused and that diversity should be respected and valued.

IFCO is not involved in international adoption or fostering. We believe the foster family should be as close to the family of origin as possible. IFCO was established in 1981 and has members all over the world. IFCO’s membership is comprised of individuals and organisations involved in foster care.

IFCO is a networking organisation: it has no staff, but is run by volunteer Board Members supported by financial administration services donated by TACT in London. IFCO can also rely on a pool of international experts and trainers for its project work. From its inception IFCO has had an active youth component. Young people are involved in decsion-making and have their own network worldwide.